Mac and Windows operating systems treat Universal Video Class (UVC) webcams differently. UVC "plug and play" drivers started getting support on Windows platforms in OS XP SP2 and on MAC OS 10.4.11.
The tables below compare OS support for the various webcam controls and features one by one.
Webcam controls available on MAC OS vs. Windows OS
| Mac OS | Windows OS | |
| Plug and Play (UVC) | Plug and Play (UVC) | |
| Pan and Tilt | No | Yes |
| Zoom | No | Yes |
| Manual Exposure (Auto override) | No | Yes |
| Manual Focus (Auto override) | No | Yes |
| Low Light Boost (Auto override) | No | Yes |
| Brightness | No | Yes |
| Contrast | No | Yes |
| Hue | No | Yes |
| Saturation | No | Yes |
| Sharpness | No | Yes |
| White Balance | No | Yes |
| Backlight compensation | No | Yes |
Current versions of MAC OS X don't expose the webcam controls listed above on a global-application basis. With some restrictions, webcam controls for a proprietary application (ex. Logitech Webcam Software) could be implemented, whereas it isn't possible to make these controls available for applications such as Skype or QuickTime.
Webcam features available on MAC OS vs. Windows OS
| Mac OS | Windows OS | |
| Plug and Play (UVC) | Plug and Play (UVC) | |
| Low Light Boost (Automatic Mode) | Yes | Yes |
| RightLight (Automatic mode) | Yes | Yes |
| RightSound (Automatic mode) | Yes | Yes |
| Autofocus (Automatic mode) | Yes | Yes |
| Face tracking | No | No |
| Logitech Video Effects | No | No |
NOTE: Developing a driver doesn't necessarily result in additional benefits for the webcam when in use. See answer 360023240894 for more information about the Mac operating system and Logitech webcam drivers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Compatible Product
